Taiwanese representative asks Turkey’s support citing President Erdogan's remarks: 'The world is bigger than five'

Anadolu Agency
Date: 24.10.2019
By: Havva Kara Aydın  

The chief of the Taiwanese mission in Turkey echoed on Thursday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks that "the world is bigger than five".

"Taiwan is a small country and we hope Turkey can support Taiwan in the international society, in the international organizations," Yaser Tai-Hsiang Cheng, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission in Turkey, said.

"As Dear President Erdogan said ‘The World is bigger than five' and there are 23 million people in Taiwan who have fundamental human rights.

"We want to represent them in the international platforms, such as the UN’s Climate Change Summit or International Civil Aviation Organization,” said Tai-Hsiang Cheng, underlining Taiwan's aim for friendly relations with all countries.

Tai-Hsiang spoke at a meeting which was organized by the Student Support Council of Ankara University in the country's capital to raise funds for international scholars.    [FULL  STORY]

Support for unification has fallen to its lowest point in June since 1996, with only 13.6 percent of Taiwanese favoring the position

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/10/24
By:  Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A pollster said on Thursday (Oct. 24) that Taiwanese identity has declined

during the three years of the Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) administration, according to a report on newtalk.tw.

Yu Ying-lung (游盈隆), Chairman of the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation (TPOF), said that Taiwan is praised around the world for two achievements: economic development, and the establishment of democracy. These two achievements are often referred to as “miracles” but there is a third and less noted Taiwan miracle, which is “the miracle of Taiwanese identity,” Yu was quoted by the news outlet as saying.

He elaborated by saying Taiwanese identity has peacefully replaced Chinese identity just two decades after the lifting of martial law in 1987. This is the first time a sense of Taiwanese identity has arisen in 400 years of Taiwan history.    [FULL  STORY]

‘INFURIATING’: The Taipei mayor said Tibetan lamas choose to self-immolate because it is ‘trendy’ and such acts have ‘caused great trouble’ for Chinese authorities

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 25, 2019
By: Ann Maxon  /  Staff reporter

The Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan yesterday demanded an apology from Taipei Mayor

Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) for saying that Tibetan lamas were causing trouble for the Chinese government by self-immolating.

Ko on Wednesday said at a Taipei City Government briefing on public safety that self-immolation was a “trendy” thing to do among Tibetan lamas, adding that the behavior “caused great trouble for the Chinese government.”

Self-immolation is a public safety hazard and “not a very good way to commit suicide,” he said.

“Why would anyone choose self-immolation to take their own life? That is weird. Why self-immolation? I do not get it,” he said, laughing.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/10/24
By: 

Taipei, Oct. 24 (CNA) Taiwan's top official responsible for China affairs on Thursday said the

government has established a single "contact channel" for a Hong Kong murder suspect to inform them when he is ready to surrender to local authorities.

Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) told a legislative session that following the establishment of the contact channel, Taiwan's government has officially informed the Hong Kong authorities that suspect Chan Tong-kai (陳同佳) should use it to inform the Taiwan authorities when he plans to return to the country.

According to Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang (陳明堂), the channel has been set up by the nation's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) under the Interior Ministry's National Police Agency.

As soon as Chan arrives in Taiwan he will be arrested by police and turned over to prosecutors responsible for investigating his alleged involvement in the murder of his girlfriend Poon Hiu-wing (潘曉穎) when the two were in Taiwan in Feb. 2018, according to Chen Ming-tang.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 23 October, 2019
By: John Van Trieste

President Tsai Ing-wen has traveled to the outlying island of Kinmen to mark 70 years since the Battle

of Guningtou. During the battle, the island’s defenders repulsed an attempted invasion by Chinese Communist forces.

On Wednesday, Tsai awarded badges to surviving veterans of the battle and led a memorial service at one of the island’s graveyards. Tsai said that during the battle, troops, officers, and local civilians came together, showing Communist invaders their determination to defend the country.

She said that without the defenders of Kinmen, Taiwan would not enjoy the freedom, democracy, and prosperity it does today. She also said the battle is a reminder that peace does not come about by making compromises or backing down.

Tsai spoke about her administration’s work to advance Taiwan’s national defense, including projects to make Taiwan self-sufficient in terms of armaments. These include projects to build military aircraft and ships.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Pride: Queerness in Asia

The News Lens
Date: 2019/10/23
By: Rik Glauert

Rik Glauert is a freelance journalist and student based in Taipei. He specializes in politics and human rights and has previously reported from China, Hong Kong, and Myanmar.

Gay couple Masahiro and Kosuke, whose first names are omitted for anonymity, dreamed of buying a small house together in the Japanese city of Fukuoka.

Under Japanese law, however, they cannot get married and they found it impossible to get a joint mortgage as two legally single men. Luckily a close friend in real estate bent the rules and granted them a loan in Kosuke’s name.

Last month, the pair sued the government to allow them to legally marry. They joined 12 other couples launching cases in district courts across the country as part of Japan’s greatest attempt at marriage equality in history.

Japan’s bid, led by activist group Marriage for All Japan, is inspired and guided by Taiwan’s landmark win to recognize same-sex marriage in May this year.    [FULL  STORY]

Some senior staff of well-known temples members of Chinese Unification Promotion Party

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/10/23
By: Teng Pei-ju, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A pro-Beijing political party in Taiwan is reportedly exerting a strong

influence on dozens of temples across the island, sparking fears that religious communities are being utilized to promote Beijing’s political agenda and facilitate money laundering from China.

According to a report by Mirror Media, the founder and chairman of the Chinese Unification Promotion Party (CUPP), Chang An-lo (張安樂), has openly admitted that he maintains good relations with the management of about 30 temples across Taiwan, including those frequented by visitors from different parts of the island and overseas tourists.

The chairman, who has called China his “god,” said some of these temples’ senior staff have joined the party, occasionally organizing events to promote cross-strait exchanges.

Several temples were pointed out by Chang, including the Longqi Wenheng Temple in Tainan, Sheng Wu Temple in Taichung, Xingang Fengtian Temple in Chiayi, and Beigang Chaotian Temple in Yunlin. The chairman says members of the temples often invite him to temple fairs and ask him for assistance with events involving China.    [FULL STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/10/23
By: Chang Wei-chiang, Wu Po-wei, Liu Shih-i, and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, Oct. 23 (CNA) Following the release Wednesday of a suspect wanted for murder in Taiwan, the Hong Kong government opened the door to cooperation between the two sides, while defending its handling of the case.

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng (鄭若驊) said Hong Kong would cooperate with Taiwan's requests for evidence in the case of Chan Tong-kai (陳同佳), if the requests met the necessary legal standards.

Chan, who has offered to turn himself in to Taiwanese authorities to face trial, would be allowed to take evidence in his possession to Taiwan if he decided to go, Cheng said.

She maintained, however, that the Hong Kong government did not have jurisdiction over the murder case, under its Prosecution Code.    [FULL  STORY]

‘NO ISSUE OF SURRENDER’:The Hong Kong government is putting people’s lives at risk by allowing suspected killer Chan Tong-kai to travel alone on an airplane, the MAC said

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 24, 2019
By: Wu Cheng-ting, Chung Li-hua and Sherry Hsiao  /  Staff reporters, with staff writer

Hong Kong murder suspect Chan Tong-kai (陳同佳) is a wanted fugitive, not a backpacker, so he

should be arrested and not be allowed to “turn himself in,” President Tsai Ing-wen said yesterday, urging the Hong Kong government not to sidestep the issue.

Chan is suspected of murdering his girlfriend, Poon Hiu-wing (潘曉穎), in Taiwan in February last year.

In April, he was sentenced by a Hong Kong court to 29 months in prison for money laundering after he used Poon’s bank card to make automated teller machine withdrawals.

He was released yesterday.

Taiwan would not give up its jurisdiction over the case, and if the Hong Kong government is unwilling to exercise its jurisdiction and seek justice for the victim, then Taiwan would “handle it,” Tsai told reporters at an event in Kinmen County to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Guningtou.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 22 October, 2019
By: Natalie Tso

KMT presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu is saying he will bring in 20 million tourists a year by 2028. He said that if he is elected president, he will set up a Department of Tourism. He made the announcement during his national listening tour which he began last week after announcing a 3-month leave from his Kaohsiung mayoral duties to campaign for president.

His campaign manager Simon Chang said that the plan to establish a Department of Tourism is to put tourism affairs on a higher level in the central government. Some of Han’s plans including establishing 10 flagship destinations including 10 special townships and 100 leisure farms. The goal is also to raise tourism revenues from the current 4.4% of GDP to 8%.    [FULL  STORY]